Twins sign P Rafael Perez to minor league deal

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Minnesota Twins have signed left-hander Rafael Perez to a minor league contract with an invite to major league camp.

Perez pitched just 7 2-3 innings out of the bullpen for the Cleveland Indians last season because of shoulder problems. He had surgery to remove a spur in his shoulder in September and started throwing for scouts earlier this week.

The pitching-starved Twins decided to give the 30-year-old a chance. Perez was a very reliable reliever for the Indians in the previous five seasons. He was a starter earlier in his minor league career, and the Twins have left open the possibility of Perez getting a chance at the rotation.